Most newlyweds start building their life together by getting or renting a new property, buying new items for their space, and so on. This wasn’t the case for Suzy and her husband Jay. For starters, they already had a 54sqm property that Jay had invested in. Also, instead of scouring furniture shops for new home décor and accessories, the couple “shopped” in his family home first before moving in. It’s a good thing that Jay’s family has an antique collection which proved helpful to their budget and the aesthetic they had in mind.

“What I really wanted was an industrial and rustic look,” says Jay about the design style he had in mind, not knowing that it was the exact opposite of what Suzy had planned. “I wanted a countryside home—think floral couches and everything girly,” she says with a laugh. What seemed like a bump in the road—design wise—for this couple turned out to strengthen their home’s aesthetic: a marriage of both their opposing ideas. They still went for the industrial style, but made sure to inject pieces to soften the look.

Once they had their style down pat, it became easier for Jay and Suzy to decorate their space with antiques, DIY art and furniture, and lighting fixtures, and decide which pieces go where. “As with anything, renovating our home was all about reconciling—our ideas, our budget, and our expectations,” says Jay.